Township residents oppose annexation

Ashland's law director says the city is ready to annex a 15-acre property on U.S. 42 from Montgomery Township, but some people living nearby have expressed concern about the move.

Commissioners conducted a public hearing Thursday to hear input from residents. After listening to one of the property's owners, Law Director Rick Wolfe and neighbors living close to the land, commissioners took no action on the matter, saying they would like more time to review the proposed annexation. To approve the annexation, commissioners must pass a resolution within 30 days.

Commissioner Mike Welch said commissioners will "reach their decision based on evidence and testimony received."

If commissioners approve the annexation, Ashland's municipal planning commission would have to recommend how the property would be zoned, and City Council would have to review recommendations, hold a public hearing and pass an ordinance authorizing zoning determinations, Wolfe said.

The law director said the property is zoned for agricultural use, but could be better suited zoned residential if annexed into the city.

Wolfe told commissioners annexing the property would be a benefit to the owners of the land -- Gary R. Fossaceca and Rebecca J. Sturgill-Fossaceca -- by allowing them to access city services such as water and sewer but would not cause hardship to surrounding properties or their owners.

"Again, this is a question of whether or not annexation would be a benefit to the property sought to be annexed. And it's weighing the benefits and detriments to the area and the surrounding area," Wolfe said. "We submit to you that there is significant potential benefit to the area to be annexed and there's little to any detriment to the area that is not in the city but is ajoining this area."

The property is at 1045 U.S. 42 North with residential zoning to the north, south, west (across U.S. 42) and light industrial to the east. Wolfe said the residential area to the south contains the Cabot Cove subdivision, which has residents who have voiced opposition to their properties' annexation.

A group of 27 residents living near the property signed a petition objecting to the annexation. Their reason, according to the petition: "We all have substantial investments in our homes that conform to County Health Department sanitation regulations, and are concerned about the diminution in property values and potential expenses to us as a result of the annexation of this land."

A few of the neighbors also showed up to voice their opposition to the annexation.

Dan Kliner, a resident of nearby Montgomery Township Road 843 said easements on the front and back of the property would limit the land's development capabilities. He also said the location of his house would affect efforts to extend a roadway entrance to the Fossaceca property from Township Road 843.

"That property is well-suited for a gentleman's farm. The house is historical and so are the barns," Kliner said, adding he's concerned that property values could be affected by the annexation, and that he would like a "buffer" of dirt or trees between his property and the one up for annexation, because the land could be used for commercial purposes.

Danielle Raber, also a resident of Township Road 843, said when her house was built 10 years ago the commercial properties to the east of her home were zoned for agriculture and were changed upon being annexed into the city. She said she and others were told there would be a buffer zone formed between warehouses and residential homes, but it was never implemented. Raber expressed concern that if the Fossaceca property were to be annexed and have its zoning changed, a similar situation could arise.

"What kind of assurances can we have as the homeowners there that these precautions are being followed through? Because they haven't been on the other areas," Raber said.

Wolfe responded by saying annexation petitioners should not be held responsible for previous actions in which they did not take part.

"For people that are away from this and on down in the other areas to suggest that this Fossaceca property shouldn't be annexed is really not appropriate," Wolfe said.

In other business, commissioners approved three change orders for the ground floor renovation at the Ashland County Office Building. By approving changes calling for carpet in a public area, a new exterior metal door for the garage connected to the west side of the building and another for relocation of two heating pipes, the total cost for the project grew to $1,171,650.14.

Commissioners, along with members of the board of elections and other county officials, also discussed adding electrical work necessary to install a projector and screen in a training room, but decided to not take action.

Ashland County Board of Elections Chairwoman Bonnie Manos said the projector and screen would be an important tool for poll worker training, and asked commissioners to allow for installation of the hookup costing $785.

Separately, a representative from the Ashland County Department of Job and Family Services gave commissioners an update on Project Comfort 2008, a heating assistance program for low-income residents.

There were 567 applications approved from Jan. 1 to March 31 with approximate expenditures totaling $226,800. The program runs through April 30.